Electric switch



A. H. NERO.

ELECTRIC SWITCH. APPLICATION H-LED NOV. 10. 1917.-

- w l" "Hr s llllllllllll Z? v v A v flay/ah. /\/Ef?0 7765 62 5/ Patented June 20, 1922.

, zen ofthe United Statesof America, and

'ABVID H. Nnno; or new BRITAIN, commcrrcu'r, hssmnoa To run annow Etna TRIO COMPANY, or HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, aconrom'rzon or commc ricumf 1 v :ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Be it known that L-ARVID H. NERO, a citiresiding at New Britain, inthe countyof Hartford and State of Connecticut, have in vented a certain new and useful Improvement in Electric Switches, of which'the following is a specification. v

My "nvention relates and particularly to rotary snapswitches, the object of my invention being toprovide a simple and elficient switch constructlon which may be economically manufactured and readily installed. I

In the accompanying drawings, V

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a switch in which my invention is'embodied in one form;

Fig. 2is an inverted plan "thereof;

Fig. 3 is a' vertica Section iht i' ght ,4 is a perspective brittle and its carriersleeve;

Fig. 5' is a perspectiveof cor o bined line and switch tenninalscshownTin inverted position and Fig. -6 is a; dropped; perspectiyefthe switch spindle and partsjmounted thereon...

The-"present switch is of the surface type and comprises an insulating body" 10 of inverted cup shape adapted to resti upon-any suitabl support. 1 1,"to'which it' secured 7 terminal comprises Jaj standard with" *ofiseta fflange'lll carr. ing .a binding screw for by'screws 12 and 13pa'ssing through the top zofrthe body 10 and down throughtheswitc v chamberv 1 enclosed 'by the side wall 15' of the; body; Within the switch .cha'mber 14:

iandfion opposite sidesthereof are mounted I coinhined;,wire*terminal andswltch plates j 16 near: secured'to the top' ofthe insulating casing by means of screws 18-. f Each w re .one' of the lea ing-in wiresflwhich enter "the 5 inclined lug When the switch' is switch chamber: through grooves 21 in the loweredg Q f .the fiange 15* of the casingi stalledsli'ghtly below the level'of surface-11.;

piercing the sidewall of the casing." These holes '-may be used for egress-off the Specification of ietters Patent.

. c terminals and alternate with thelatter. to electric switches Patented June 20, 1922.

' t lieation'fi ea November 10,1917. -Seria1No. 201,235.'

Toazlwhomitmdyconcev'nr 7 is desired.

On the inner face of the top of the casing and surrounding a central, well 24 are formed two arcuate ratchet teeth 25. These ratchet teeth 25 have substantially the same arcuate extent as the base flanges 22 of the A bump 26 at the'lowend of each tooth serves to support the rise 23 at the adjacentend of theswitch terminal flange, while the rise at the opposite end of the tooth lies above the adjacent end of the switch terminal and affords a quick make of the connection between the switch terminals by the switch -bar 27, just as the rise 23 at the end of the switch terminal insures a quick break of the circuit when the switch bar drops therefrom to the depressed area of the arcuate tooth24." 1

:Ihe switchbar 27 ismounted on switch spindle 28 which passes upward through the top wall of the insulating casing-and is en-@ gaged above the latter -bythethumb piece 29 The :latter is preferably of porcelain and is pierced to permit the 'body of "the with ,a non-circular ,well '30 in its outer end a to receive the Wing'sha headfi 31'which afi'ords an engagement etween the, thumb;

piece and the. spindle-.1 The inner end per-- tion of the spindle, is inch-circular it; cross section and has adjacent its extremityfafslot i 32,.tofreceiv e the split retaining washer 33 of the switch bar 27 "so as to cause the latter to rotate therewith; These lugs 36 are bev-g eled'at38 onone face to permit the switch bar- 27 to lag p the latter is rotated fby; the dog 7 34.? This.

behind the ratchet 35 when 10'0' permits the spri g 39',ei1ed .j-upojni-the can ier s ee 4 to b .wgmdually eemp tithe "inclines 23 g a o .t l .slti n f ir t e switch than would befthe" were vthe the wires may he led in through holes 44; 45,;

spring,;39 is confinedhetweentheend flange iliofthe sleeve and the facefof the switch 8O spindle to passtherethrjough but-is provided Y 'bar. A' supplemental spring may be interposed between the ratchet plate and the opposite face of the switch bar to insure the continued engagement of'the ratchet plate and dog when the switch bar rises over the inclines 23 and 25, at which time of course the, ressure of the main spring 39 I upon the switch bar is not transmitted to the ratchet plate. The opposite end of the sleeve 40 is-sprea'd above the upper face of the ratchet plate, thus forming an assembly u'nit comprlsing the sleeve 40, spring 39, notch bar 27 spring 42, and ratchet plate I 35. A bearing washer 43 may be interposed between the inner end of the sleeve 40 and the-retaining washer 33 to insure the free action of the switch. The operation of the switch is readily unf ederstood; -When thespindle 28 isrotated thethumb'piece 29, the dog 34 enga es ratchet "35gand rotates the latter. n-

b tile 3 asmuc'has the lugs35 of the latter engage the switch"bar;the movement is imparted to the latter. As the'switch barmoves with the spindlejit encounters the rises 2 3 and 'which oppose its rotation. The switch bar;

moves lengthwise of the spindle under-the I 27 :rides down the inclines 38 offthe lugs" 36 of the ratchet 35 under the influence ofthe continued pressure :of the ratchet, rising partially rough its bearing on the inclines 23, 25 and partially through the cam}- .ming action ofthe inclined faces 38 of the lugs 36. During this action it lags behind. the ratchetplate but is-finally rotated over the. tops-of the inclines and 15 then moved, with the spindle v m til it clears the crises whereupon it is pressed downward bythe main switchspring 39; upon the contact plates-or the interposed arcuate teeth, thus making or breaking the switch with a:

snap action.- Inasmuch as the switch bar coil spring 39, a positive forward throw" is imparted to theswitch bar which serves increase thespeedand length of the break between the-switch barand the contacts 22;

The. added. length-of break. thus secured ine Various modifications in detail will I read ily occur to'those skilled'in the art which'do Q not-depart frommy invention and the latter is not limited to; thedetails shown-and de course, a rotary switch 1 scribed; v

I claim:'-'-'= Y I 1.; In an electric switch, an insulating body having ahilland valley course, switch terminals lying in alternate valleys of said ritraveling said course, a rotarycam having inclines engaging being of less pitch than the declines of the course, means to actuate said cam to lift the switch her over the hills of the course, the

switch 'barla 'ng behind the cam duringits rise over a .hill portion of the course, and a spring freely engaging the switch bar to forcethe latter down the inclines of the cam after it passes the crest of the hill and thus to cause a forward rotationof the switch bar into the succeeding valley of the course.

2. In the construction specified in claim 1, j

a ratchet driver for actuating the operating cam.

3. In a, construction such as specified in" claim- 1, effect flanges' et the ends of the switch terminals; said flanges servinge as detents to hold the switch baragainst rotation until lifted thereover by the cam.

'4. In an; electric switch, a switch spindle having aratchet dog rotating therewith, 'a' Y cooperating ratchet plate with ofi'setflugs and a switch bar freely'engaged by saidlu to permit the relative displaceinentbf-'sa1d'- switch bar len hwise of enga ed by sai lugs.

5.v 11 an electric switch t e. ePi W i assembly unit comprising a flanged sleeve adap'ted'.;to1,fit

creases the current capacity which the switch can safely control. i

freely over a' switch spindle,a switch'bari i I rotatable on said sleeve, a switch spring coiled on said sleeve'andconfined between -1 one end flange thereof and the switch bar, a:

ratchet plate bearin freely engaging said. switch bar, to rotate the againstfth'e opposite 1 end flange of said eeve and lugs thereon f 5 latter while at the same time permit its relay-'1.

tive longitudinal displacement onsaidsleeve- I 6. Inan electric switch an assembly unit .a comprising a, flanged sleeve adapted/tent; freely overa switch spindle, farswitch-ba'r rotatable 'on said sleeve, a-switch ,spring v coiled on said sleeve Iandconfin edbetweenf :one end flange thereof'and the s'w itchlbar, a-'- 51 ratchet plate bearing against thee posits end flange of said sleeve and'lugs -ft ereon' terposed type coin engaging said switch bar ,to'press' it towardsald course, andv a cam device 'for assisting thereise' of the switchubar over the hills of i its course. against the actionlof the switch "1 7 the switch bar, the inclines of the-said cam pressure of said switch spring.

, ducting spring, the'pitch of'the cam being less than I 'the'pitch ofxthe declines of'the course, said switch bar lagging behind the cam durin the actuating movement of the latter, an

riding down the cam with a positive forward ,1

throw as, it-leaves the hill crest under the I rotary 8. An electric switch comprisin switeh bar, alternatin hill and a ley conwhich it rests in successive positions, as rin freely pressing the switch bar tower h sait and non-con noting members on members, and an actuating member having inclines engaging said switch bar to lift it with lagging action over the successive hills and down which inclines the switch bar rides as it moves from hill to valley position, the pitch of the inclines of the actuating member being less than that of the declines of the course.

9. In an electric switch, an insulating casing with inverted cup shape, a spindle piercing the top thereof, arcuate ratchet teeth on the inner face of the insulating casing and concentric with said spindle, switch terminals mounted within said casing and alternating With said ratchet teeth, a switch bar spring-supported on said spindle Within the casing, a thumb piece engagingthe spindle outside the casing and a ratchet-operated cam for the spindle and engaging the switch operating terminals or ratchet teeth alternately, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have name to this specification;

ARVID H. NERO.

signed my 

